Copy-holder.



'No. 748,537. PATENTED DEC. 29, 1903. F. 0. SHOBERT & M. H. RENO.

COPY HOLDER.

APPLIUATION IILBD SEPT. 29, 1902.

2 SHEBTS-SHBBT 1.

N0 MODEL.

No. 748,537.- PATENTED DEC.Z9, 1903.

F. c. SHOBERT & M. H. RENO.

COPY HOLDER.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1902. N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Illa/law! UNITED STATES Patented December 29, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERIC c. SHOBERT, or PITTSBURG, AND MARSHALL n. RENO, or

ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA. I

COPY-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 748,537, dated December 29, 1903- Application filed September 29, 1902. Serial No. 125.197. (No model.)

residing at Pittsburg, and MARSHALL H.

RENO, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, citizens of the United States of America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Copy-Holders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in copy-holders, and relates particularly to that class of copy-holders employed in connection with type-writers for holding copy in a convenient position for the operator to read the same while transscribing.

The invention has for its primary object to construct a copy-holder intermittently operative, whereby the copy may be raised step by step as it is transcribed, thus requiring no changing of the copy in its position upon the holder.

A further object of the invention is to construct a holder of this class with means in close proximity to the keyboard ofthe typewriting machine whereby the operator may actuate the copy-holder plate to elevate thecopy as desired, the same means being the medium through which the copy-plate is lowered when the end of each page is reached.

Stillfurther objects of the inventibn areto provide a self-adjustable scale so mounted as to adjust itself to copy which may be irregular in thickness; further, to provide a scale adjustable in length, so as to accommodate copy of difierent widths, and, still further, to provide a copy-holder plate with supplemental copy-supporting means adjustable substantially into a plane with the main plate, so that copy of great width may be conveniently supported.

Another of the main objects of the invention is to construct a copy-holder with a base from which the copy-holder plate is supported at one side thereof, the base and the plate extendingin the same direction, whereby it is possible to bring the copy-holder into a more convenient position with respect to the typewriling machine than is .possible where the copy holding plate is supported centrally from a base, as has heretofore generally been the practice.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more specifically described and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

In describing the invention in detail refer- "ence is bad to the accompanying drawings,

forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, in which Figure 1 is a detail perspective view of our improved copy-holder, a part of the operating-lever brokenlaway and shown in detail. Fig. 1 is an elevation of a part of the base and the supporting-standard, showing in dot ted lines how the latter may be inclined in order to vary the inclination of the copy-holding plate. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is acentral vertical sectional view of a part of the supporting-standard and actuating'rack, also showing a part of the actuating mechanism. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the copyholder plate, showing in top plan a part of the supporting-arm for the graduated scale. Fig. 5 is a detail plan View of a part of the graduated extendible scale. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a part of the adjustable operating-lever.

To put ourinventioninto practice, We provide a supporting base or pedestal l, which in practicewmay be cast or stamped and is made of a size to prevent tilting of the copyholder when the same is not fastened or held down on a table or stand. In practice we have found a convenient form of base or ped-- estal to be that shown herein forillustration,

'which is substantially triangular in form with a side wall 2 and rear wall 3 We also, preferably, extend the base some distance past the rear wall to form an extension 4, which gives the base greater purchasing power on the supporting table or stand and also afiords means for attaching the retracting-spring thereto, as will more presently appear. With this construction of base or pedestal we may place the base portion thereof under the one leg or foot (not shown) of the type-writing machine, which will securely hold the copy-holder stationary upon the table or stand, with the copy-holding plate supported at the back or rear of the typewriting machine in a convenient position for the operator. The base or pedestal is constructed with an apertured standard 5, and in this apertured standard or lug 5is mounted a hollow supporting-standard 6, which receives the rack-bar 7 ,carryin g the copy-holding plate 8, and besides serving in this capacity also acts as the cylinder member of the dash-pot that cushions the plate and rack-bar in their descent. The rack-bar 7 operates in the hollow standard 6, its rear face being provided with teeth 9 and its upper end being bent over,as at 10,and securely fastened to the copy-holding plate 8 adjacent to one edge of the latter. We support this copy-holder plate from one edge thereof, so that the entire plate will project to one side in the same direction from the side Wall 2 of the base as the base-plate 1 of said base. The copy-holding plate being thus projected to one side, it is positioned when in use directly back of the type-writing machine. In order to guide the copy-holding plate in its intermittent or step-by-step movement more steadily while being elevated, we attach to the hollow standard 6, at or near the upper end thereof, a cross-bar 10, which is apertured near its free end to receive the rod 11, carried in lugs 12 near the opposite edge of the plate.

In some instances it may be desired to support the copy upon the copy-holding plate 8 of greater width than the said plate, and to this. end we preferably employ a supplemental supporting means for the copy. This supporting means may be of various construction, a practical one being shown in the present illustration, which consists in a pair of rods 14, which may be provided on their outer ends with buttons or knobs 15, the rods sliding through lugs 16, carried on the rear facefof the copy-holding plate 8, near the top and bottom thereof, respectively.

Suitable means may be employed for securing the copy in position upon the copy-holdingplate, a practical form being shown in the present illustration and consisting of a spring-pressed bar 17, swiveled upon the arm 18, carried by the bracket 19,and which arm is under the tension of a spring 20, so as to hold the same normally against the copy, the bar 17 beingswiveled upon the upturned end of the rod 18. This bar will readily adjust.

itself to any unevenness in the thickness of the copy, as will be apparent.

The copy-holding plate is intermittently operated by mechanism engaging the rackbar 7, which will now be described. An operating-lever 21 is pivoted at a suitable point above the supporting-base1--as, for instance, on the upwardly-extending lug 22 of the side wall 2. This operating-lever in practice is preferably provided with a curve 23 to accommodate the rear corner of the type-writing machineand permit of the forward part of the operating-lever 21 extending outwardly parallel with the side of the type-writing machine. This operating-lever 21 is preferably provided at its outer end with a hollow keypiece 24, which receives the end of the lever and is adjustable thereon,so that the length of the lever may be increased or decreased, as may be desired by the operatoror required by the style of machine being used. As the keyboards on the different makes of type-writing machines are at different heights, we preferably provide an adjustable key 25. This key 25 is carried by a shank 26, threaded in the key-piece 24 and provided with a jam-nut 27, whereby the height of the key may be adjusted as may be required or desired. At its rear end the operating or actuating lever 21 is pivotally connected to the actuating-rod 28, extending through the boss 29, carried by the standard 6 at the upper end of the lever. At its upper end the rod 28 carries a small bearing-block 30, in which is pivoted a pawl 31, which is at all times under the tension of the spring 32, carried by the block 30 and engaging the rear face of the pawl 31, thus normally holding the said pawl in engage.- ment with the teeth 9 of the rack 7. Pivotal'ly mounted in the boss 29 is a dog 33, which is also normally in engagement with the rack-bar 7. This dog 33 has a rearward extension 34, through which the rod 28 extends and upon which the block 30 bears. The dog 33 is normally held in engagement with the teeth 9 of the lug 7 by means of the spring 35, arranged in the recess 36' of the boss 29 and exerting its tension against the rearward extension 34 of the dog. In order that the pawl 31 and dog 33 be both disengaged from the teeth 9 when it is desired to lower the copy-holding plate,we provide the dog 33 on its rear face with a stud or pin 36. .As the rod 28 is pulled downwardly the rearward extension34 is forced downward by reason of its beingengaged by the block30, the dog 33 drawn out of engagement with the teeth of the rack, and this movement imparted to the dog to disengage the same throws the pin 36 against the inner face of the pawl 31, so as to force this pawl out of engagement with the rack to permit the latter, together with the copy-plate holder, to descend. The spring 37 is attached to the rear end of the lever 21 and to a suitable point on the supporting base, so as to return the lever 21 to its normal position after each operation thereof.

In order to impart a uniform movement to the copy-plate holder and rack by each actuation of the lever 21, we provide regulating means, the present illustration thereof comprising a keeper 38, attached to the standard 6 directly above the apertured lug or standard 5. This keeper 38 is provided with a slot 39 and hasa graduated scale 40 marked thereon at one side of the slot. The rear end of is shown in the present illustration.

the set-screw 41 extends through the slot39 and carries a roller 42 inside the keeper to be engaged by the lever 21 to limit the throw of the latter. This set-screw may be positioned as desired, so as to give the desired throw to the lever 21. The aperture in the lug or standard 5 is preferably made just a shade larger than the standard 6, whereby the latter may be given difierent inclinations by means of the set-screw 43, the shank of which extends through the slot 44 in the side wall 2 and engages in the standard 6 near the lower end of the latter.

As heretofore stated, the rack-bar '7, while serving as a support 4, as 'well as a part of the meansforelevating the copy-plateholder,also serves as the plunger of a dash-pot for steadying and controlling the downward movement of the copy-holder when the same is released. To this end the rack-bar 7 is of a less diameter than the bore of the standard 6, except at the lower end of the plunger, this lower end portion 45 of the plunger forming a pistonhead 45 for compressing the air during the descent of the rack bar or plunger. The standard 6, which forms the cylinder member of the dash-pot, will of course be provided at a suitable point nearits lower endas, for instance, at 46--with an air-vent, as in the ordinary construction of dash-pots.

In connection with the copy-holder we employ a spring-pressed self-adjusting grad uated scale, a practical construction of which This construction embodies a bracket 47, connected to the copy-plate holder 8 at a suitable point along the outer edge of the latter, and in this bracket is pivoted a rod 48, extending across the copy-plate holder to a point about midway the width of the latter and having its end :bent upwardly to receive thebearing 49, carried by the graduated scale 50. The

bearing 49 carries a set-screw 51, whereby the rod 48 may be tightened in the hearing, as desired. At its pivoted or outer end the rod 48 has an extension or' arm 52, to which and to a suitable point of the bearing 47 on the plate 8 is attached a spring 53, whereby the arm 48 is at all times under the tension of the said spring. eled centrally of its length to the arm 48, it will be observed that this scale will be free to adjust itself to any unevenness in the thickness of the copy, and in practice we graduate this scale to conform to the scale of the type-writing machine, whereby the operator in transcribing may employ the scale 50 in lieu of the scale on the carriage of the type-writer, thus. relieving the operator of considerable work in the raising of the typewriter carriage. In order to provide a scale which will accommodate the difierent-width copy, we make the scale 50 extensible, acouvenient form of construction being to place the bar 53 within the scale-bar 50, although this scale may be made extendible by other screw riding in the slot 44.

The scale 50 being swiv:

means than the telescopic construction which we have herein illustrated. When the rods 14 are extended to form the supplemental copy-holder, the telescoping member 53 of the scale may be extended to conform to the width of the copy being supported.

The copy-holding plate may be inclined by loosening the screw 43 and then pushing the upper end. of thestandard 6 and plate 8 rearwardly, which will throw the lower end of the standard forward, the shank of the set- When the desired inclination has been obtained, the setscrew is tightened to firmly engage the shoulder of said screw against the wall 2 and hold the standard in the inclined position. In the employment of the supplemental copy-holding means it is seldom necessary to extend the rods 14 sufficiently far to disengage the far or inner ends from the lugs 16. In order, however, that the rods will still be supported in a substantially horizontal line even if the far or inner ends thereof are withdrawn from the lugs 16, we may provide small lugs (not shown) on the edge of the copy-holding plate, through which the rods 14 are passed. To accom plish the same result, we may make the lugs 16 of sufllcient width so that one lug will engage enough of the length of the rod to hold the same substantially horizontal.

In operation the operator by depressing the key 25 andforcing the outer end of the lever 21 downwardly expands the spring 37 and forces rod 28 upwardly, thereby causing the pawl 31, which isin engagement with the teeth 9 of the rack-bar andplunger '7, to elevate said rack-bar and plunger, carrying the copy-holderplatetherewith. Duringthis operation the dog 33 rides over the teeth 9 of the rack-bar and plunger, remaining in engagement with said teeth. When the copyholder plate has been elevated to the desired distance or to the end of the copy-page and it is desired to lower the plate, the operator lifts upwardly on the key-piece 24 to elevate the outer end of the lever 21, thereby pulling downward on rod 28 and causing the block 30 to depress extension 34 of the dog 33 and disengage said dog from the teeth 9 of the rack-bar and plunger 7. As the dog 33 is disengaged and moved backwardly the pin or stud 36, carried by the said dog, strikes the pawl 31, disengages and holds the same away from the teeth 9 of the rack-bar and plunger 7, so that the rack-bar and plunger are free to descend, carrying the plate therewith. As this copy-plate descends the air compressed in the standard 6, which also forms the cylinder member for the dash-pot, cushions the plunger and causes the same to descend gradually and without shock to the lowered position, where it may be again intermittently operated to elevate the same for the succeeding page of the copy. The graduated scale 50, it will be observed,is mounted so that it may be swung outwardly to one side of the copy in order to facilitate the placing of the copy on the copy-holder or removing the same therefrom. Likewise the spring-pressed bar 17 is under tension of the spring 20, and the rod 18 may be pulled outwardly away from the copy-holding plate, whereby the copy may be placed on the plate readily and the spring pressed bar then brought into engagement with the outer face of the copy.

Having fully described our invention,what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a copy-holder, the combination with an intermittently-movable copy-plate, of actuating means including a rack-bar, an actuating-rod, a dog carried on the upper end of the rod for engagement with the rack-bar, and a pivoted actuating-lever operative in one direction to elevate the copy-plate and in the opposite direction to release the dog from the rack-bar to permit the descen t of the copyplate, substantially as described.

2. In a copy-holder, the combination with a copy-holder plate, and means for supporting said plate, of a self-adjusting graduated scale mounted to swing outwardly from the plate and adapted .to normally engage the copy carried on the plate. a

3. In a copy-holder, the combination with a suitable support, of a copy-plate and a spring-pressed scale one of which is movable intermittently, and means for intermittently actuating the movable member, substantially as described.

4. In a copy-holder, the combination with a base and asupporting-standard adjustably mounted in the base whereby it may be inclined to different angles, of an intermittently-movable copyplate, and means for intermittently actuating said plate, substantially as described.

5. In a copy-holder, the combination with a standard adjustable to different inclines,

' of an intermittently-movable copy-plate to hold the copy, means for intermittently actuating said plate, and means for holding said plate in position after each operation 'thereof, substantially as described.

6. In a copy-holder, the combination with a suitable support, of a copy-plate, and a spring-pressed scale, said copy-plate being movable intermittently, and means for intermittently actuating the copy-plate.

7. In a copy-holder, the combination with a copy-holding plate, of a spring-pressed scale pivotally mounted whereby it will antomatically adjust itself to the copy, sub- 10. In a copy-holder, the combination with an intermittentlymovable copy-plate, of mechanism including a lever for operating said plate, said lever when actuated in one direction elevating the plate and when actuated in another direction serving to release the mechanism to permit the plate to lower, substantially as described.

11. In a copy-holder, the combination with a support, of a supporting-standard adjustably mounted at one side of the support, and a copy-plate supported at one edge from said standard, substantially as described.

12. In a copy-holder, the combination with an intermittently movable copy plate, of means for imparting an intermittent or stepby-step movement to said plate, said means including an operating-lever, and means for adjusting the length of said lever, substantially as described.

13. In a copy-holder, the combination with a support, of a standard mounted at one side thereof and adjustable to different inclinations, an intermittently-operatingcopy-plate, and means including a lever for imparting an intermittent or step-by-step movement to said plate, said lever being adjustable whereby the length thereof may be increased or decreased, substantially as described.

14. In a copy-holder, the combination with a copy-holding plate, and means for imparting an intermittent or step-by-step' movement to said plate, of supplemental copysnpporting means adjustably mounted for movement in a plane with the plate whereby different-width copy is supported, substantially as described.

15. In a copy-holder, a main copy-holder plate, and supplemental copy-holding means adjustable in substantially the same plane as the main plate for supporting different width of copy, substantially as described.

16. In a copy-holder, an intermittentlymovable main copy-holding plate, and means for imparting an intermittent or step-by-step movement to said plate, and supplemental copy-holding means adjustable in substantially the same plane as the main copy-hold ing plate whereby different-width copy may be actuated, substantially as described.

- 17. In a copy-holder, the combination with a main copy-holding plate, and supplemental copy-holding means carried thereby and adjustableiin substantially the same plane as the main copyholding plate, of a springpressed scale adapted to engage the copy on the plate and adjustable lengthwise to conform to the width of the copy, substantially as described.

18. In a copy-holder, a suitable support, a copy-holding plate mounted to one side of the support, and means for imparting an intermittent or step-by-step movement to said plate, substantially as described.

19. In a copy-holder, a suitable support, a copy-holding plate mounted to one side of said support, means for imparting an intermittent or step-by-step movement to said plate, and a spring-pressed adjusting-scale lying in front of the plate and adapted to engage the copy carried by the plate, substantially as described.

20. In a copy-holder, the combination of an intermittentlymovable copy-holder plate, and means for securing the copyon said plate, of an adjustable supporting-standard, means for intermittently operating the plate to elevate the same, and means for cushioning the plate duringits downward movement to cause the gradual descent thereof, substantially as described.

21. In a copy-holder, the combination with a support, of a hollow standard mounted at one side of the support and adjustable to different inclinations, means for securing the standard in the adjusted position, a plunger operating in said standard, a copy-plate carried by said plunger, means for imparting an intermittent or step-by-step movement to the plunger and plate to elevate the same, said plunger and standard forming a dash-pot to cushion the plate when the securing means is released, and securing means for holding the plate at the adjusted position, substantially as described.

22. In a copy-holder, an intermittentlymovable copy-holder plate, and means including a lever for imparting astep-bystep movement to the plate to elevate the same, said lever when actuated in one direction elevating the plate, and when actuated in another direction releases the plate to permit its descent, substantially as described.

23. In a copy-holder, a substantially triangular supporting-base, a standard mounted in said base at one side thereof, a plunger operating in the standard, a copy-holding plate carried by the plunger, a spring-held operatinglever pivoted on the supporting-base, mechanism connected to said lever and to the plunger whereby when the lever is depressed the plunger and copy-plate are elevated and when the lever is elevated the plate and plunger are permitted to descend, substantially as described.

24:- In a copy-holder, an intermittentlymovable copy-holding plate, and a common medium operative in one direction for intermittently operating the plate to elevate the same, and operative in a reverse direction for releasing the plate to permit its descent, substantially as described.

25. In a copy-holder, the combination with asupporting-base, a standard mounted at one side of said base, and a copy-holding plate suspended from said standard and extending l in the same direction as the base, substantially as described.

26. In a copy-holder, the combination with a supporting-base, a standard mounted at one side of said base, a copy-holder plate, and

means carried by said plate to retain the copy, substantially as described.

27. In a copy-holder, the combination with a supporting-base,a standard mounted on one side of said base, a copy-holder plate suspended from said standard, a spring-pressed scale attached to said standard, and means carried by said copy-holder plate to retain the copy substantially as described.

28. In a copy-holder, the combination with a suitable support, of two members comprising a copy-holding medium, and a graduated scale pivoted intermediate its ends, said copyholding medium being movable intermittently, and means for intermittently actuating the movable member.

29. In a copy-holder, the combination with the copy-holder plate and the support therefor, of a graduated scale mounted to swing outwardly from the copy-holder plate, substantially as described.

30. In a copy-holder, a copy-holdin'gmedium, means for actuating said medium to impart an intermittent or step-by-step movement thereto, and means for obtaininga gradual descent of said medium when released.

31. In a copy-holder, a copy-holding medium, means for actuating said medium to impart an intermittent or step-by-step movement thereto to elevate the same and for holding the medium after each actuation, and means operative when the medium is released to obtain a gradual descent thereof.

32. In a copy-holder, acopy-holding medium, means for actuating said medium to elevate the same, means for holding the copyholding medium in position after each actuation, and means operative when the medium is released to obtain a gradual descent thereof.

33. In a copy-holder, a copy-holding medium, means for actuating said medium to impart an intermittent or step-by-step movement thereto to elevate the same,and for holding the medium after each actuation, and a dash-pot for cushioning the medium when released to obtain a gradual descent thereof.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

. FREDERIC O. SHOBERT.

MARSHALL H. RENO.

Witnesses:

J OHN GRAEBING, Jr., A. M. WILSON.

IIO 

